The courtyard of the CIBC Breast Assessment Centre featuring wooden slats over the windows and flowers in the foreground

May 9, 2018

Second international award for CIBC Breast Assessment Centre

The architecturally stunning CIBC Breast Assessment Centre (BAC) has once again been recognized with an international design award.

The BAC’s design firm, Toronto-based Zeidler Partnership Architects, received the International Academy of Design & Health Award at a 2017 ceremony in Vienna, Austria. The award was for International Healthcare Projects under 40,000 square metres, in the Highly Commended category.

“To be recognized for outstanding healthcare design on the international stage is extremely gratifying,” said Jurgen Henze, Zeidler Partner and Design Architect on the project. “The CIBC Breast Assessment Centre was true collaboration between Hamilton Health Sciences and the architect.”

The state-of-the-art BAC opened in September 2014 to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary expertise and care in the diagnosis of breast cancer, including a high-risk genetics program. It was designed with a non-clinical look and feel, providing a calm, peaceful and relaxing atmosphere for patients. Water, natural light and landscape work with the interior design to create an oasis-like, calming environment.

“Women who come to the CIBC Breast Assessment Centre are often very anxious so it was important to us to create a calming, natural ambiance,” said Regional Cancer Programs Director Carol Rand. “We are very grateful to Jurgen Henze and the architectural team at Zeidler for such a wonderful design and congratulate them on this prestigious award.”

This is the second international award for Zeidler Partnership Architects, in recognition of the Centre’s design. In 2012, Zeidler won the International Future Health Project Award at the Design & Health World Congress and Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The project also received the City of Hamilton Urban Design & Architecture Awards – 2015 Award of Excellence in Architecture.

As well as being recognized for its world-class design, the Centre also won the CCO Annual Quality Award in 2015 for its radiology/pathology rounds process.